SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY DISMAYED AT RESUMPTION OF FIGHTING IN GUINEA-BISSAU
Press Release
SG/SM/6887
AFR/130
SECRETARY-GENERAL DEEPLY DISMAYED AT RESUMPTION OF FIGHTING IN GUINEA-BISSAU
19990204 The following statement was issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:The Secretary-General is deeply dismayed at the resumption of fighting between Government forces and forces loyal to the self-proclaimed Military Junta, which has already resulted in the loss of a high number of innocent lives and a new exodus of the civilian population from Bissau. The Secretary- General calls on all parties to halt military operations and to respect international humanitarian law and to facilitate the free flow of humanitarian assistance to affected populations.
The Secretary-General welcomes the Economic Community of West African States' (ECOWAS) ongoing efforts to stop the fighting and urges both parties to abide by the Abuja Agreement of 1 November 1998 and to respect the new ceasefire accord which they signed on 3 February.
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